Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-04-06


decidedly dirty dog which the girl was
hugging tightly against her white
apron. very much TO its detriment.
The young and unprotected female
compressed her lips, and. looking quite
dciiantly ut her opponents, deigned no
reply to their amiablc intimations But
Tad thought that she also glanced At
him rather anxiously. as though fearing
he might array himself on the side Of
tic foe.
"Sure. / w'udn't be afearcd Of
gurrl, Bob" scornfully insinuated the
red-headed. in an undertonc. and. thus
stimulated. Bob took step forward.
but Tad was too quick for him.
"LoOk here!" exclaimed Tad. feel
ing his blood tingling clear to his fin
ger-tips as he placed himself directly
in front of Bob. the short-haired-"yo
just leave that girl alone, will you?"
And. tucliing his sachel under one arm.
TAD threw himself into an attitude both
offensive and defensive, which was cal
culated To- strike terror TO the heart Of
the enemy.
Wasn't a-touchin' of her-was I,
Mickey Dolan?" returned Bob, step
ping back in evident alarm. II will,
though, il she don't give me my purp"
he added, with threatening shake II
the hoad, encouraged at the sight Of his
friend, who, after carefully turning
back his tattered shirt-cufrs. was rapid
! " revolving pair Of red fists with a
view of paralyzing the bold intruder
| b. his own display of science.
81 don't care" undauntcdly replied
the small female, speaking for the first
time; Tits not your dog. and l ron't
| give him up-there. now" And re-
greet to say that Miss Polly Flagg fur
Their emphasized her declaration by
stamping n small foot on the pavement
with considerable force.
Don't worry. misSr' snid Tad. reas-
suringly. They won't dare lay fin
ger on you-or tho dog. either while
I'm here; and there's policeman just
coming round the corner, to-" the lat
ter information intended for the ears Of
the two warlikc youths, having an i'm
mediate effect. Mickey thrust his
hands in his pockets, and walked
away, whistling "Mulligan Guards"
while Bob, with parting scowl, quite
equally divided between the girl. the
dog and Tad himself. ran hastily across
the street, and disappeared up the near
est alley.
(Which way might you be going.
miss3' asked Tad. with great polite
ness, rs Miss Polly Flagg, looking ex-
tremely relieved. made preparations
for departure by cuddling the small
dog securely in her arms.
SHOWN 10 Commercial wharf. where
our vessel lies, was the unhcsitating
answer. MY father is Captain Jethro
Flaeg, and I'm Polly Flagg." contin-
ucd Miss Polly, vaguely conscious that
some sort Of introduction was the
proper thing. under ell the circum-
stances.
my name Is Tad-I mean Thaddeus
-Thorne. and I'm from philadelphia, 3"
sid Tad, wishing that his jacket was
less thrcadbare and his shoes were
whole, as he glanced nj the simple but
neat dress Of his companion, whose
face was completely oycrshadOwed by
n deep calico sun-bonuct shaped like
the tilt Of n market wagon.
oh returned Polly. aud then, in
stead of speaking of the weather, or
asking Tad how he liked Boston. Polly
plunged hcndlOng into personal ex-
PLANTATION: 1.-The cook wasn't we'll this
morning." she began, ESQ had 10 GO
to market, for father was uptown. And
while l was hurryinS back through
Lewis Lane. because it was nearer,
those horIid boys chased the poor little
dog that had got lost, and he ran to
me so pitiful. said Polly. bending over
tho small animal in her arms until It
was completely eclipsed by the sun
bonnet, that l caught him up. and
said they shouldn't have him. Then
You came along. and-rm ever so
much obliged"
The abrupt wind-up. though little
incoherent. was perfectly satisfactory
10 Tad.
Hell be nice little dog after he's
washed" Tad remarked. patting the
pup 10 cover his embarrassment. for
Tad wasn't used TO thanks, particularly
from girls. IL guess he's Newfound-
land" he continued. with knowing
glance ut the animals ears and paws,
land they're first-class water-,logs, you
know"
Polly nodded. md. after n short
pause, looked curiously at the hand
some travelling sachel in Tad's hand.
You don't belong to any Of those
vcssclSs" she asked, inquiringly. For
they had crossed busy Commercial
street. and were walking along the
platform on the water front, where the
pedestrian looks down upon the Devil
dering maze of masts, sPars and cord
age belonging to the coasting and FISH,
ing craft huddlcd in the basin between
the two wharvcS.
NO" replied Tad. in low voice.
He could not tell her that he belonged
to nothing-to no one. a. he mentally
expressed it. II would make him seem
like sort of vaGrant. youthful tramp.
Nor did he-to Polly's secret disap-
pointment--account for his possession
Of the handsome little travelling sachcl,
with its silver mouutings. at which
Folly had cast admiring chances.
you can come aboard. if YOU like"
she said; but Tad. who noticed her nj.
most imperccptible change Of manner
, without being able to account for it,
shook his head.
"Oh. no. miss; don't look fit" he
replied, with glance at his shabby
clothes and patched shoes. that was pa
thetic. II come down here" he con.
tinued. simply, because there wasn't
any other place where could set dowr
: and look over the papcrs-good-m
inU miss ~ opd h.f,,.., Pill o.,,,J -.